Feature

Pro Bike Check: Cecil Ravanel’s GT Force Carbon Expert

03.01.2014

by Manne Schmitt

manne

I first caught sight of Cecil Ravanel and Cedric Ravanel while riding the main lift in Val D’Isere. I watched the identical liveried pair drop into the main red run and proceed to tear down the trail, fully pinned you could see they were strong on the pedals. The French rider has been a dominant force in XC and the new XCE racing, and with the birth of the Enduro World Series switched focus to Enduro with her partner Cedric. Racing for team GT Skoda, Cecil put on an amazing performance finishing 2nd overall at the end of the season!

Cecil Ravanel and her new 2014 GT Force Carbon Expert. Running 650b wheels and considerably lighter than her GT Force LE! — Cecil Ravanel and her new 2014 GT Force Carbon Expert. Running 650b wheels and weighing in at 13.1kg it is considerably lighter than her GT Force LE!

Cecil started the season on a 26 Inch wheeled GT Force but after extesnive testing switched up for the last few EWS events onto a 2014 27.5 GT Force Carbon Expert. Cecil is a big fan of the 650B, “it´s easier to ride over rocks” and the weight of the bike is 2 kg less. When we caught up with Cecil at Finale Ligure she was also testing out the new prototype Marzocchi 350 NCR Enduro Fork

There are few bike silhouettes as distinctive as the GT Force. Instantly recognizable!

Cecil was testing the new Marzocchi NCR 350 (Prototype). The fork will not be available until April 2014 but ticks all the boxes, with 35mm stanchions, 650B options and weighing in around 1900 grams, it is likely to be very popular race ready fork.

Cecil chose to run a Hutchinson Squale 2.5 front tire in the soft compound. Running on an American Classic 27.5 wheelset the setup was a good match for Finale Ligure rock!

The fork uses an air main spring with a negative coil spring to help overcome initial seal friction, the seals themselves are SKF green units developed for motocross.

There is a lot of new technology squeezed into the 350 NCR, available with a remote for the lockout, allowing on-the-fly adjustment. the fork also has a new Dynamic Bleed Cartridge (DMC), a semi sealed system allowing oil to circulate out of the top of the cartridge, this allows the oil to cool before returning to the circuit.

Cecil favors Formula TheOne brakes for deceleration, combined with a remote for the fork and KS Lev Internal Seatpost! — Cecil favors Formula TheOne brakes for deceleration, combined with a remote for the fork and KS Lev Internal Seatpost! She uses Richley Trail Carbon bars running at 740mm width and a Richley Trail 50mm stem.

The 350 NCR remote offers rapid adjustment of the forks lockout platform.

Cecil is passionate about design, looking after all the teams design needs. Fittingly she has also designed her own S MANIE saddle

The GT Force Expert uses a Rocco Lite shock to drive the dual-bearing pivot 160mm rear travel.

For drive, Cecil uses a mixture of Shimano XTR and XT.

1x10 gearing from the ever reliable Shimano XT rear mech! — 1×10 gearing from the ever reliable Shimano XT rear mech!

The Hutchinson Python tire proved fast rolling and tough in Finale!

EWS in Finale Ligure — Cecil Ravanel tearing down an EWS stage in Finale Ligure

For more information check out: Ravanel MTB

Words: Trevor Worsey | Photos: Manne Schmitt

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.

About the Author

Manne Schmitt
Authorized Officer

Manne Schmitt is a Procurator at 41 Publishing, contributing a wealth of methodological expertise from his career as a Chief Analyst for a state authority. This background ensures the journalistic depth of his research, and the acquisition of exclusive news for E-MOUNTAINBIKE, ENDURO, GRAN FONDO, and DOWNTOWN. Active in cycling since 1989, he combines operative test support with administrative responsibility, strengthening the quality of editorial processes. The world of racing remains a passion; no one on the team knows the EDR professionals better than Manne.

View all posts

ENDURO is the leading magazine for mountain bike technology and the modern trail riding lifestyle. We cover high-end bikes, global trends, and technical innovations – in-depth, bold, and always with an eye on the bigger picture. Our editorial approach speaks to everyone who sees mountain biking not just as a sport, but as a way of life. We view bikes as more than just the sum of their parts, evaluating products through the lens of real world riding rather than just on the spec sheet, testing bikes everywhere from alpine adventures to intense bikepark laps.

Since 2011, ENDURO has stood for journalistic quality and transparent reporting in the MTB segment. In our in-depth individual and comparison reviews, our specialist test team brings years of on-trail experience from around the world to deliver well-founded verdicts and real guidance for riders. Our awards are internationally recognized as a benchmark for innovation and quality in the bike industry, offering reliable orientation for readers, retailers, and manufacturers alike.

ENDURO is published in both German and English, reaching an international audience.